Red Fruit Tart with Vanilla Pastry Cream
Red Fruit Tart with Vanilla Pastry Cream is a medium American recipe that serves 8. 410 calories per serving. Recipe by Martha Stewart on YouTube.
Prep: 1 hr 5 min | Cook: 42 min | Total: 2 hrs 2 min
Cost: $12.58 total, $1.57 per serving
Ingredients
- 2.5 cup All‑purpose flour (for crust (patsu cray extra))
- 0.33 cup Granulated sugar (for crust)
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 cup Unsalted butter, ice‑cold (cut into ½‑inch pieces)
- 3 large Egg yolks
- 3 tablespoon All‑purpose flour (for pastry cream)
- 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 0.5 cup Granulated sugar (for pastry cream)
- 0.25 teaspoon Salt (for pastry cream)
- 2 large Eggs (for pastry cream)
- 2 cup Whole milk
- 1 tablespoon Unsalted butter (for pastry cream)
- 1 bean Vanilla bean (seeds and pod, split lengthwise)
- 0.5 zest Orange zest (zest of half a fresh orange)
- 0.25 teaspoon Powdered gelatin (softened in 1 tbsp water)
- 1 tablespoon Water (for gelatin)
- 0.25 cup Heavy whipping cream (to fold into pastry cream)
- 5 cup Mixed red berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.) (washed, stems removed)
Instructions
Make the crust dough (patsu cray extra)
In a food processor combine 2½ cups flour, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt. Pulse briefly, then add the cold butter pieces and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea‑size butter pieces.
Time: PT10M
Add egg yolks and form dough
Add 3 egg yolks to the butter‑flour mixture and pulse just until the dough comes together in a ball. Do not over‑mix.
Time: PT5M
Chill the dough
Divide the dough into two equal discs, wrap each tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (up to 24 hours).
Time: PT5M
Roll out and fit tart pan
On a lightly floured surface roll one disc to a 13‑inch circle. Gently lift the dough using the rolling pin and drape it over a 9‑inch tart pan, letting it fall into the edges. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides, trimming excess with a knife or rolling pin.
Time: PT10M
Freeze the tart shell
Place the assembled tart shell in the freezer for at least 1 hour to firm the butter before baking.
Time: PT5M
Blind bake the crust
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line the frozen shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights (or dried beans). Bake 20‑25 minutes until the edges turn light golden. Remove weights and parchment, then bake another 10‑15 minutes until the base is a very light golden brown.
Time: PT35M
Temperature: 350°F
Prepare dry ingredients for pastry cream
In a medium saucepan whisk together 3 tbsp flour, 2 tbsp cornstarch, ½ cup sugar, and ¼ tsp salt.
Time: PT5M
Infuse milk with flavor
Add 2 cups whole milk, the seeds and pod of 1 vanilla bean, and the zest of half an orange to the saucepan. Heat over medium‑high until just boiling, then boil for 1 minute.
Time: PT5M
Combine wet and dry, cook pastry cream
Remove the vanilla pod and orange zest. Whisk 2 eggs in a separate bowl, then slowly pour the hot milk into the eggs while whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan, add the dry ingredient mixture, and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 3‑4 minutes).
Time: PT7M
Add gelatin and butter
Stir in 1 tbsp butter until melted. Sprinkle ¼ tsp powdered gelatin (pre‑softened in 1 tbsp water) into the hot cream and whisk until fully dissolved.
Time: PT3M
Cool and chill pastry cream
Transfer the pastry cream to a shallow bowl, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent skin formation, and refrigerate until completely chilled (at least 2 hours, up to 2 days).
Time: PT5M
Whip heavy cream and fold
Whip ¼ cup heavy cream to soft peaks. Gently fold the whipped cream into the chilled pastry cream until fully incorporated, creating a lighter, more voluminous filling.
Time: PT5M
Fill the tart shell
Spoon the pastry‑cream mixture into the pre‑baked tart shell, spreading evenly to the edges.
Time: PT5M
Set the filling
Refrigerate the filled tart for at least 2 hours, or until the pastry cream is firm.
Time: PT2H
Arrange fresh berries
Just before serving, gently pile about 5 cups of fresh red berries (strawberries, raspberries, etc.) on top of the chilled tart. Handle the berries with clean hands or a spoon to avoid crushing them.
Time: PT10M
Serve
Slice the tart with a sharp knife, wipe the blade between cuts, and serve at room temperature.
Time: PT5M
Nutrition Facts
- Calories
- 410
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbohydrates
- 45 g
- Fat
- 22 g
- Fiber
- 4 g
Dietary info: vegetarian, contains gluten, contains dairy, contains eggs
Allergens: wheat, dairy, eggs
Last updated: April 7, 2026






